Cork TDs reflect on their highs and lows over the last four years in Dáil Éireann
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, addressing a joint sitting of Dáil and Seanad to mark Ireland's 50-year membership of the EU at Leinster House in 2022. Picture: Maxwell's Dublin.
Cork TDs have looked back over the last four years as they spent their final day of business in the Dáil on Thursday ahead of the general election, acknowledging progress that has been made and more work that needs to be done.
Speaking to Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said that, “over the last four years, there has been no delivery on major roads and infrastructure here in West Cork.”
"I’m very disappointed that we’ve had no progress on the north and south relief road in Bandon, and not a thing spent on the Innishannon and Bantry bypasses.
“Major promises were made, and over the last more than 15 years, not a shovel has been laid on any one of them,” he said, adding that Cork motorists are also “crying out” for passing bays, as they can be stuck behind tractors and lorries “causing a lot of anxiety and a lot of accidents.” Mr Collins said wastewater treatment facilities in Shannonvale, Rosscarberry, Goleen, Ballydehob and Dunmanway have received “no funding whatsoever” either.
“If we look at health, the home help sector has been let down badly. You can’t get home help for elderly people in West Cork, they cut back on cataract reimbursement – it’s a continuous attack on our elderly.
"We’ve a lot of money in the country, but there’s no accountability about where it’s being spent.”
Cork North Central People Before Profit-Solidarity TD, Mick Barry, said, “water, the buses and a better deal for children with autism have been big issues of late."
“Looking back over the whole Dáil.... everyone in Cork will remember the Debenhams Strike and the way that those workers got shafted right at the start of covid. That inspired me to put forward a 'Debenhams Bill', which would improve the rights of workers in a liquidation situation.
He recalled pushing against the Government on their plans to proceed with a traditional Leaving Certificate when students had missed months of school due to the pandemic.
“I also remember the verbal clashes with two separate Ministers for Education which helped to win a fairer deal for Leaving Cert students in the covid times.”
Sinn Fein TD for Cork South Central, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, said: “The last four or nearly five years, I have done my best to deliver as best as possible from opposition.
“Unfortunately, in several key areas this Government hasn't delivered. Garda numbers in some stations such as Mahon have fallen considerably in recent years, housing costs are up, and childcare provision is inadequate."
Mr Ó Laoghaire said "we also have seen important local projects not making headway,” such as the Events centre.
"The Cork Luas is proceeding at a snail’s pace, and the people of Lehenaghmore are still waiting almost 15 years on for footpaths.
Tanaiste and Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central, Micheál Martin, told "There’s been major investment in Cork over the last four years.
“The Government has allocated €400 million through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). Cork got the highest grant in the country and that money will see a dramatic transformation through the regeneration of the Docklands and Grand Parade Quarter.
“The investment in housing has been strong,” he said, praising Cork City and County council for their quick response to projects such as Housing For All, adding that one of the first Cost Rental Schemes in the country was in Cork.
Mr Martin continued: "In education, the emergence of MTU is a major milestone. Cork is now a city of two universities, we’ve invested significantly into things like the National Maritime College and it goes to show the range of programs MTU now provides which will help with inward investment and job creation into the future.
“MTU has become one of the major centres for cybersecurity globally, that’s the kind of niche development we need to keep promoting – a number of companies in the private sector have come in from US and Irish companies have been formed.”
Mr Martin said that Cork is “a major city for infrastructure, home to great pharmaeceutical and technology companies.”
"An ambition of mine is that in the future we’d create a new industrial landbank similar to Ringaskiddy.”
In healthcare, the community nursing unit in Gurranabraher, Ballincollig Primary Care Centre and new Ophthalmology unit in South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital are “transformative” projects, as well as “substantial” investment in CUH and the Mercy, he said, adding “the elective hospital will be major for Cork, and it is well on its way.”
Cork North Central Fine Gael TD and Junior Minister, Colm Burke, said that he has dedicated the last four years to work on the Public Accounts and Health Committees, recalling the issues with RTÉ funding as “a big learning experience for us all.”
“I’ve been involved in healthcare committees since 2011, which prepared me for when I was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy.”
He told that he spent his last day in the Seanad where a bill he drafted in relation to raising the age for the sale of tobacco to 21 was passed, saying “it’s now going to go to the President to be signed, and the new rules will come in on February 1 2028 – we’ll be the first country in the EU to have raised the age of sale for tobacco products.”
Mr Burke said that over the last six months, he has been focusing on alcohol and drug addiction services.
"We now have 422 different treatment centres around the country, I’ve visited a lot particularly in Cork.”
Mr Burke added that he hopes to push a day centre for the homeless in Cork, saying he has been meeting with Cork City Council, the Department of Housing and the HSE on this.
“The cost will be about €4 million, so I am working to see how we can source that funding at the moment, it’s about bringing people into stable accommodation so we can work on rehabilitation.”
Overall, he said, “there are still challenges we need to address, but I’ve been working hard with the Department and the HSE and other state agencies to deliver solutions.”
His party colleague, Cork South Central TD and former Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, said: “I think there’s been enormous investment in Cork in the last four years in roads, infrastructure and education.
“Cork is earmarked to be the fastest growing urban centre in the country in the next 10 years, and we want to invest accordingly. It's not a coincidence that close to 50,000 people are employed in Cork now by multinationals, they see a city that’s ambitious, expanding.
“Over the last 13 years, Fine Gael have managed to build an economy that can pay for everything we need in Ireland. For the first time in Irish history, we have surpluses every year, and we’re putting money towards a fund for the future so if another international crisis hits, we have the resources to help businesses and families.
“I’m not saying there’s not more work to do, because of course there is – in health, disability, and housing, which is the biggest challenge in Cork. We’ve got to keep driving up delivery of all tenures of housing,” adding that the government is investing over €5bn a year in different housing responses.
“There’s more to be done on policing too, we have got to make the city safer, but we need to make sure we have an economy that can pay for it.” He added that Fine Gael promise “solid, predictable policy."
“I know only too well that we’ve got to deliver 50-60,000 houses a year, but if we go for radical, alternative policies, it will put the brakes on a lot of the growth we’ve seen – not too long ago less than 10,000 homes were built a year, now we’re up to 35,000.”
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